NEW EDITIONS.—Rural England. By H. Rider Haggard. 2 vols. (Longmans
and Co. 12s. net.)—Mr. Rider Haggard writes for this new edition a highly interesting preface. He is discouraged, it is evident, by the failure of his efforts to attract the attention of responsible persons, by the neglect, for instance, with which the landed interest was treated by Mr. Balfour's Government. He turns, however, with some hope to what the party now in power may do. Protection he definitely disclaims. Taxes on food he sees to be impossible, and he argues with irresistible force that if the farmer has no chance of raising the price of what he produces, it would be ruinous to have the price of what he consumes raised against him. He will not get more for his wheat ; why then should he have to pay more for his threshing machine ? Our author protests against the idle talk so common in a section of the majority about the taxation of land. Any attempt to put additional taxes on agricultural land would be the cruelest injustice. Unfortunately there are politicians who, whether from hostility to the agrioultural interest or from ignorance, propound measures which would complete the ruin of this great national industry.—Twelve Sermons. By F. W. Robertson. (R. H. Allenson. 6d.)
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